Izuchukwu relishing 'unreal' opportunity with Ireland

Cormac Izuchukwu says phoning his mother to show her of his first call-up to nan Ireland squad made nan accomplishment moreover much sweet.

The 24-year-old Ulster guardant was named successful Andy Farrell's 35-player sheet for nan upcoming two-Test circuit of South Africa.

Ireland look nan back-to-back World Cup winners successful nan opener successful Pretoria connected Saturday 6 July, pinch a 2nd gathering to travel 7 days later.

"To beryllium moreover considered for Ireland is unbelievable and erstwhile I sewage nan email [to corroborate his place] I was complete nan moon," nan Tullamore man said astatine a property convention connected Monday.

"I phoned my mam and it was genuinely 1 of nan champion telephone calls I've ever had - proceeding really happy she was pinch me, that was each worthy it."

A beardown decorativeness to nan play earned Izuchukwu, who tin play astatine fastener and backmost row, a spot connected nan level to South Africa.

Izuchukwu made his Ulster debut successful 2021 but struggled to unafraid a regular spot and was still being released to All-Ireland League broadside Ballynahich to summation game-time earlier this year.

The translator came pinch nan presence of Richie Murphy successful February - pursuing nan sacking of caput coach Dan McFarland - arsenic Izuchukwu became a fixture successful nan team.

"Ballynahinch is simply a awesome nine and everyone location texted maine to opportunity congratulations - it's been unreal," added Izuchukwu.

"There was a small spot of a change-up successful really we [Ulster] play and I ended up successful nan backmost row. This play gone by has been beautiful bully - Richie came successful and I had four-five bully games towards nan extremity of nan play and present I am."

Izuchukwu is nary alien to world rugby aft playing for Ireland Sevens and Emerging Ireland.

Now he has taken nan last measurement to nan elder squad and he is wished to enactment astatine nan apical level.

"I was connected nan Combined Academies circuit a mates of months ago, which is benignant of huffy arsenic I was playing pinch lads and nary of them were capped - a mates of months later and I'm present pinch nan large boys.

"This is nan spot I want to beryllium truthful hopefully I tin make it stick."

A first elder headdress could travel against nan Springboks, who eased to a 41-13 triumph over Wales astatine Twickenham connected Saturday.

Ireland person won nan past 3 Tests against nan Boks but mislaid 2-1 successful nan past bid successful South Africa 8 years ago.

"I deliberation everyone knows what to expect - they're going to beryllium highly beingness and passionate pinch nan fans down them.

"Not only are they back-to-back world champions but we're going complete location connected their location patch. It's going to beryllium a large task for nan boys to beryllium fresh for."